Game-counter



(No Model.)

J. F. LOHSTROH: GAME COUNTER.

No. 545,601. V Patented Sept. 3, 1896.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF CE.

JOHN F. LOHSTROII, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

GAME-COUNTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of- Letters Patent No. 545,601, dated September 3, 1895. Application filed June 17,1895. Serial No. ssam- (No model.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. LOHSTROH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Registers; and I do he'reby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, reference being had to the annexed drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention comprises a cheap and simple register which has been designed more especially for keeping an accurate account of games and other proceedings that are not very complicated in their nature, the peculiar construction'of the device and the method of operating it being hereinafter more fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the annexed drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of the preferred form of my register, the index or pointer thereof being set at zero. Fig. 2 is a vertical section of the instrument, taken at the line Z Z of the preceding illustration, the pointer being swung around to the same plane as said letters and the instrument clamped to a table. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view showing said pointer engaged with the notched arc bar of the register. Fig. 4 shows two members of a modified form of the clamping device separated from each other. Fig. 5 shows this form of the clamping device secured to a cylindrical object.

The preferred form of my register is intended to be used as a game-counter, and consists of a straight plate A, having at its top a pair of end lugs B B and at its bottom a central lug G, the latter being tapped to admit a screw D, wherewith the instrument is readily and securely clamped to a table E, as represented in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the ends of this plate are united together by an arc bar F, which is usually semicircular, and is notched at regular intervals, as at G, the notches being numbered successively in the manner shown. These notches are V-shaped, as seen in Fig. 3, and the numbers II, between said notches, are raised above the upper surface of the bar, to render them more conspicuous and facilitate casting the device.

I is a smaller bar, concentric with the are F and preferably integral with the bar A, and raised slightly above the level of the latter, as seen in Fig. 2, to permit a free swing of the portion J of a pointer or index J J, the free end of which carries a knob or button J", while its other end engages overa pivot K, projecting vertically from a short lug L of plate A.

F I are described from said pivot.

The pointer or index is a strip having a twist intermediate its ends and outsidethe are I, the ends of said strip lyingin different planes. By this arrangement of parts the are I exerts sufficient pressure upon the pointer to keep it normally in engagement both with the pivot K and the notched bar F, the engagement with said bar F being rendered more efiective by making the under side of said pointer J knife-edged, as seen in Fig. 3.

To use this register, each 'player, at a game of cards, is furnished with one, which is fastened to a card-table in any position that will be the most convenient, and then, as points are made in the game, the index J J is moved accordingly, thereby keeping an accurate account of the players progress. As soon as one game is finished, the points made are noted down on a slip of paper, the index swung back to the position seen in Fig. 1, and a new game is commenced; but by providing a greater number of divisions on the arc bar F an account of any ordinary game can be kept without resetting said index. It is evident, however, that the use of the instrument is not restricted to card-playing, but may be employed with equal advantage for billiards and various other games of a similar character.

In the modification of my invention seen in Fig. 4 the main'plate A of the instrument is curved and has a long vertical slot M to admit a cross-piece N projecting from the upper end of astrap O. This strap is a flexible piece of metal, and is perforated near its lower end, as is the plate A, to admitatighteningscrew P, wherewith the register is clamped to a cylindrical bearing R in the following manner: The strap 0 is first so turned as to render its cross-piece N vertical, in order that it may be readily passed through the slot M of plate A, after which act said strap is again turned until said pieceN is horizontal. Evidently the strap is now loosely hinged or This pivot is the center of the operative parts of the register, and the arcs coupled to the plate, and can be readily fitted around the cylinder R and fastened thereto in the manner seen in Fig. 5. This cylinder may be a faucet secured to a vessel containing oil, or liquor, or molasses, &c., and by properly manipulating the index an exact account can be kept of the number of drafts made on the faucet, which drafts may represent pints, quarts, or gallons, 850. Finally, the register may be made of any suitable metal or composition of metal, and be plated or japanned or otherwise finished to suit the demands of trade.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, ina register, of a mainplate having an innerarc-bar, an outer notched and numbered arc-bar; means for attaching said plate to a support; and a pivoted flexible index that engages with either one of said notches, and is retained in place by said inner arc-bar, substantially as herein described.

2. The combination, in a register, of the main-plate A, having an inner arc-bar I, an outer notched and numbered arc-bar F, lateral lugs B, B, O, a screw D tapped in the lug (J; and a flexible index JJ', pivoted to the instrument at K, which index is adapted to engage with either one of said notches, and to be retained in place by said inner arc-bar I, all as herein described, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. LOIISTROTI.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. LAYMAN, EDWARD BARTON. 

